Electric sign



May 24' 1927' F. AcHlLA ELECTRIC SIGN Filed April s', 1924 Patented May 24, 1927. I

UNII'I'ED STATES :PAT-'E-NT =oi=Frc-E.

-FULGnNcIo Anal-Uta, or no'eofra, oo'rjoitnrir.

ELECTRIC SIG'N'.

' ppleation filed April 3,

The presentinvention relates to electric switches, and the inventionaims to provide a novel and im-'proved circuit Controller for controlling' the circuits of electric lamps or other e'le-n'ients energized by electrcity Another object is the provision of ,such a Controller for electric circuits which can be operated by the finger or any suitable implement in order that the circnits can be closed mon'ientarily or may remain closed for a period of time, depe'ndingv on the amount lof depression of the keys or buttons which control the switches of the circuits. Thus, by pressing;` on the biittons or keys lightly, the circuits are only closed as ,long as the .light pressure is applied, and by movingl the finger or implement about over the buttons or keys, the different circuits may be closed corresponding' to the line of movem'ent of the fing'er or implement. By depressing the keys or buttons further they are held to keep the corresponding' circuits closed. p

A further object is the provision of novel means for restoring' the keys or buttons and opening' the switehes in ``groups or zones or in toto. v

iVVith the foreg'oing' and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the inv'ention resides in the construction and rarrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claime'd, it being underst-ood that changes can be made within the sc'ope of what is claimed, without departing' from the vspirit 'of the invention.

The invent'on is illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, whcrein Figi: 1 is a diagramniatical view showing' the 'electrical circuits. i a

Fig. 2 vis a fragn'ientary plan View of the Controller. I

Fig'. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the Controller., portioiis being' broken away and portions shown in section. 4,

Fig'. 4 is anotherl` fragnicntary eleyation of thev Controller. z

As shown there is a group of electric lainps or other elements 13 which may comA prise an electric sign and eachlamp 13 is connected by a common conductory 17 through lan electric generator 18 or other source of electrical energy and a rxheostat 19 for controlling the current with the 'controller switches 20, and individual conduc- 1924. 'Semi No. roaael.

tors or wires 21 extend from-the lamps 13 to the. correspond'ing switches 20 of the controller.

The Controller may have its "switches arranged in 'the same manneras the lamps 13. The Controller compri'ses a suitable frame or case 22 of wood or other insulatii'ig' 1naterial, and the conduc'tors or wires 17 and 21 preferably extend from the lamps 18 to the Controller in a cable 28. 'Mounted in the frame or case 22 are thesuperpos'ed metal plates 25 and 26 to which the 'conductor 17 is connected.

The switches 20 of the Controller comp'rise plungers 27 'slidablc Vertically through the plates 25 and 20, so that- 'all of said plungers are in electrical connection with the common conductor 17. Said plung'ers have buttons or keys 28 at their upper ends distributed over the face of the Controller.l and said buttons are of suitable insulating` material. Springs 29 are confined between the plate 26 and 'Shoulders 80 of Vthe plung'ers for normally raising` said plungers. Steps 31 are carried by the plung'ers 27 below the plate 26 to contact with said plate and limit the upward movementof the plung'ers.

The switches include, as their other con tacting parts, upstanding' tubular sockets 32 secured in the bottom portion of the frame or case 22, and the upper. portions of the sockets are slotted, as at so as tobe capable of expanding' to receive the knobs or enlargem-ents 34 at the lower .ends of the plungers. I ed to be moved down into the sockets. the upper terminal portions or months of the sockets beingexpans'ible to receivesaid enlarg'ements. The sockets 82 are furthcr pro- Vided with indentations adjacent to their upper ends to snap over the enlargements 34 when the plung'ers are completely ldepressed to move, the enlarcements below the indentations 35. The plung'ers will be frictionally held in full depressed position when the enlarg'ements pass below the indentations 35 cansing'lthe sockets to contract over the enlarg'ements. Howeyer, the plung'ers can be forcibly raised to withdraw the enlargements 34; from the soekets, as will presently appear' .1 l z V The wires or conductors y21 leading to the lamps are connected to.. the corresponding sockets 32 of the Controller, so that when a The enlargcments 34 are adaptiii plunger of the Controller is depressed to contact with the corresponding socket 32, the corresponding lamp circuit is closed.

The plunger or switch restoring ineans of the controller coinpi'ises Cain bai's 86 parallel with one another and slidable in the frame or case 22 above tlic plate 25 and undei' the buttons oi' keys 28, said bars having cams 87 npstandingl therefrom and normally located between the buttons, so as not to interfere with the depression of the butt-oiis. However, when the bars are slid lciip'th'wise, the cains will raise the biittons aiid plungei's to open the switches.

In order that the lamps of several zones or Sections of the sign can be extinguislied. for changing the display oi' Coi'recting errors, the Cain bars 36 are connected in groups, each group having several bars 36 which are connected at oiie end by a cross rod 38 so that the bars of each group can be moved simultaneously for opening the switches of the corresponding zone or sectioii of the Controller, thereby extinguisliing the lamps of the coi'responding zone or section of the sign. This may he desii'able wlien only a portioii of the sign is to be changed, or wlieii an error lias been made in one portion of the sign, the lamps of such zone oi' section being readily extinguished to make the change or correction without tinguishing the lamps of the other zones.

The Operating means for the cam bars 36 includes a lever 39 for each group of bars engaging. at one end, the Cross red 38. and fulcrumed between its ends in the frame or case 22. A core 40 is pivoted to the opposite end of the lever and works in a solenoid 41 which, when energized, attracts the Core 40 to slide the bars 36 so as to raise the plungers 27 out of engagement from the sockets 32. A spring 42 is connected to each lever 39 for restoring the switch opening or clearing means to normal position when the solenoid is deeiiergizcd. Each solenoid or electro-inagnet 41.is connected, as seen `in Fig. 1, in series with the generator 18 and rheostat 19, and a switch 43 is included in the Circuit of each soleiioid for convenicntly closing the solenoid circiiits. when it is desired to clear a portion of the sign or the entire sign.

By pushing down on the buttons or keys 28, to force the -enlargements 34 of the plunger into the sockets 32 under the indentations 35, the plungers are held down by the sockets, thereby holding closed the circuits of the corresponding lainps of the sign. The buttons can be depressed by the fingers or any suitable implement which can be nioved over the area covered by the buttons or keys, so that letters, words, pictures, and other characters can be Written, ccprinted or *drawn on the sign.

The buttons can also he depressed by patterns and other devices for obtaining different illumination effects. Vhen a button 28 is depressed lightly, without sutlicient force to shove the plunger down into the socket, the lplunger will be i'innicdiately raised by the spring 29 as sooii as the pressure is relieved. Tlius, by moving the finger or implemeut ovei' the buttons, with a light touch, the switches can be closed monientarily, and the lamps of the sign will be lighted along the corresponding line, to give the effect of a moving point or dot. The button at the end of the line can be pushed down so as to be held by the corresponding socket, to keep the corrcsponding lamp lighted. and the operation can be repeated by moviiigl the 'finger oi' implemeiit in different directions over the board to build up the Character to be displayed by dots or spots of light moving .over the area of the sign and brought to predeterniined positions in succession to complete the Character step by step.

As described hereinbefore. different zoncs oi' sections of the sign can bc cleared by pressiiig the switches 43, to encrgize the solenoids 41, so that the cam bars 36 are slid to forcibly raise those plimgers 27 which are held by the soclcets 32. Different zones or sections of the sign can be cleared, or the entire sign may be cleared.

Having thus described the inveiitiou,

what is clainied as new is:-

1. A controller comprising spring-retracted plungers, members for the frictional engagement of said plungers and arranged to frictionally hold the plungers in engagenient therewith, and bai's extending across said plungers and slidable longitudinally, said bars having individual cams to contact with the pliuigers. and the bars being so arranged with reference to the plungers that when the bars are slid longitudinally the cains thereof contact witli the plungeifs and foi'cibly i'etract the plungers from said members.

2. A controller coniprising rows of spring- Vretracted plungers, meinbers for the trictioiial engagemeut of said plungers and ari'anged to frictionally hold said plungers in engagement therewith, barsl inounted for loiigitndinal sliding movement between the rows of plungers and liaviiig individual cains to coiitact With the pluiigers, and the bars being so arranged with reference to the plungers that when the bai's are slid longi tndinally the canis thereof contact with the plungers and foi'cibly retract the plungers from said members, and means for sliding said bars longitudinally.

In testimony wliereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FULGENCIO AROHILA. 

